MARGARET CATCHPOLE THE HEROINE OF SUFFOLK OR THE VICISSITUDES OF REAL LIFE A DRAMA IN THREE ACTS [Adapted from the celebrated work of the same title.] BY EDWARD STIRLIN G AUTHOR OF Martin Chuzzlewit—The Rubber of Life—Woman's the Devil —Bachelor's Buttons —The Queen of Cyprus—The Rose of Corbeil—Blue Jackets— Yankee Notes for English Circulation— Captain Char- lotte — The Pickwick Club—Aline, &c. &c. &c. THOMAS HAILES LACY, 89, STRAND, (Opposite Southampton Street, Covent Garden Market.) LONDON. MARGARET CATCHPOLE. First produced at the Royal Surry Theatre, March, 1845. This extraordinary female, born of humble parents, underwent the most singular vicissitudes that perhaps ever marked the career of woman. After meeting with many strange adventures, to obtain an interview with her lover (a celebrated captain of smugglers of the last century) she stole a horse, on which she rode to London in about eight hours; for this she was tried, and CONDEMNED TO DEATH, at the Bury Assizes, in the year 1797 ; was reprieved, broke out of prison at Ipswich, to join her lover, was retaken, sentenced again to death, and her punishment changed to transportation for life. She retrieved her character in Australia, where she distinguished herself in many extraordinary Adven- tures ; obtained a FREE PARDON, married a wealthy settler, who left her sole mistress of an immense fortune; she had one son and two daughters, who received the best education which England could afford, and returned to settle in their native land, to close the eyes of their affec- tionate parent, who died September 10th 1841, in the sixty-eighth year of her age, deeply lamented and revered by all who knew her. The Scene lies in England, during the First and Second Acts, and in Australia in the Third, ACT FIRST. EARLY SCENES. Jonathan Catchpole, a reduced Farmer .Mr.HESLOP. "Will Laud, Suitor to Margaret. Mr. H. HUGHES, Ben Luff, Mate of a Smuggling Brig . , Mr. N. T. HICKS. Muffin Pegs, an Itinerant Vendor of door- mats, hearthstones, &c. ... Mr. S. H. COWELL. Gooseberry Pip, a Country Lad . Mr. R. HONNOR. John Barry, an assistant at the Priory Farm Mr. FREDERICKS. Johnson, a Smuggler....................................... Mr. HAWKINS. Preventive Officer....................................... Mr. PHELPS. Smugglers, Preventive Service Men, Peasants, &c. Margaret Catchpole........................................ Mrs. R. HONN R. Dame Catchpole, her Mother . Mrs. W. DALY. Sally, a Country Girl .... Miss MARTIN. Interior of the Cottage of Jonathan Catchpole, at Nacton, in Suffolk. First Love. The Mother's Prophecy. DISTANT VIEW OF THE PRIORY FARM. Rustic Love. A Rural Enterprise. MARGARET CATCHPOLE. iii SIZEWELL GAP, BY SUNSET, With the Smuggler's Craft lying in the Offing, The Tempter of Land. "The Captain turned round to give the signal for his Boatmen to pull ashore, but without the least intention of giving up his prey,it was only as a cat would pretend to let her victim escape to a little distance, under the idea of giving more play.'—Vide Work, vol. 1. p 22. THE COTTAGE AT NACTON, The Lover's Farewell. THE BEACH BY MOONLIGHT. THE CONFLICT. "The poor girl's struggles now became so strong, and her efforts to escape so powerful, that Will Laud's utmost strength could not drag her along the sand."—Vol. 2, p. 208. BAWDSEY CAVE. The Stranger's Visit. Attack of the Revenue Cutter, and General Melee. ACT SECOND. THE NEW PLACE.—FRESH HOPES. Mr. Chittenden............................................... Mr.LEWIS. Mr.Wilson, Proprietor of theBull inn, Aldgate Mr C. HICKS. Will Laud, the Smuggler ............................... Mr. H HUGHES. Luff, his Lieutenant......................................... Mr. N T. HICKS. Jonathan Catchpole, reduced in circumstances Mr HESLOP. Bob, Ostler at the Bull Inn ............................. Mr. GREEN. Waiter.............................................................. Mr. WALL. Gaoler............................................................... Mr. THOHAS. Groom............................................................... Mr. WILLIAMS. Pegs, Proprietor of a Travelling Exhibition —vulgo, a Penny Show . Mr. S. H. COWELL. Mr. Gooseberry Pip, fast bound in the tram- mels of Matrimony...................................... Mr. R HONNER. Margaret Catchpole, Servant to Mr. Chittenden, Mrs. R. HONNER. Sally, now Mrs. Gooseberry Pip . , Miss MARTIN. Mary, Chambermaid at the Bull Inn , . Miss NEVILLE. iv MARGARET CATCIIPOLE. Parlour in the House of Mr. Chittenden, at Ipswich. THE LOVER'S EMISSARY. " Margaret yielded to the artful duplicity of this man, and agreed tomeet him the next night, to put her wild plan in practice."—Vol. 2, p. 208. The BULL INN, and Yard, at Aldgate. The Traveller's Arrival The Stolen Horse. " Margaret had actually ridden the horse from Ipswich to London, in the space of eight hours and a half, being seventy miles from that place to the Bull Inn, at Aldjgate, having stopped only once on the road, at a small public house, called the ' Trowell and Hammer,' at Mark's Tay, in Essex."—Vol. 1, p. 262. BAWDSEY CLIFF. THE QUARREL. THE CONDEMNATION. "On the 9th of August, 1797, Margaret was tried before Lord Chief Baron Macdonald."—Vol. 3, p. 3. " Margaret seemed to be less over- come by the sentence than by the kind words of the Judge, and, in the act of retiring, fell into her father's arms."—Vol. 3, p. 19. ST. PAUL'S, from EASTCHEAP. The Emigrants, and the Speculative Manager. EXTERIOR OF THE GOVERNOR'S HOUSE, AND YARD OF THE IPSWICH GOAL. THE ESCAPE. " The clock struck Nine, Ten, and Eleven, and Margaret had not stirred; she now rose, took her shoes in her hand, and her bundle under her arm, and with the slightest tread, stole along the stone passage."—Vol. 3, p. 63. THE ALARM. MARGARET CATCHPOLE. v ACT THIRD. AUSTRALIA. (A Lapse of Eighteen Months.) Ben Luff, a Bush Ranger . Mr. N. T. HICKS. Mr. Barry, a wealthy Settler . Mr. FREDERICKS. Pegs, a Settler . Mr S. H. COWELL. Mr. Gooseberry Pip, a Settler, nearly settled Mr. R. HONNKR. First Free Settler . Mr. CECIL. Second Free Settler . Mr. GREEN. Margaret Catchpole, a Convict . Mrs. R. HONNER. Mrs. Gooseberry Pip, a Voluntary Exile . Miss MARTIN'. Mrs. Palmer, Widow of an Australian Settler Mrs. LEWIS. A RUDE TRACT OF UNCULTIVATED COUNTRY, WITH SETTLER'S HUT. The Emigrants. A Dissertation on Natives and Native Homes. An apartment in the Governor's House, The Discovery. " Overpowered by emotions of the most conflicting kind, Mr. Barry was completely unmanned."—Vol. 3, p. 24. A WILD FOREST, IN THE INTERIOR The Bush Ranger's Fate. A Jungle. Catching a Tartar. A WILD WASTE OF COUNTRY. THE FLOOD. HEROIC CONDUCT OF MARGARET. "One family were carried away with their barn; I saw them, dear creatures, holding up their hands to Heaven, as they passed us on the sweeping flood, and imploring our help."—Vol. 8. p. 219. RESCUE OF MR. BARRY, BY MARGARET CATCHPOLE. MARGARET CATCHPOLE. COSTUMES. WILL LAUD.—Light jacket trimmed with blue, striped shirt, blue trousers.—2nd dress,—Guernsey frock, blue trousers, woollen cap and petticoat, long boots.—3rd dress.—Jacket and trousers. BEN.—Red waistcoat, over Guernsey frock, petticoat, long boots, and woollen cap. — 2nd dress, — Long smock frock, black slouched hat.—3rd dress.—Guernsey frock.—4th dress.—Same, ragged. JONATHAN CATCHPOLE.—Green coat, dark waistcoat, breeches and gaiters.—2nd dress.—Greatcoat, slouched hat and shawl. PEGS —Brown coat, drab patched breeches, red waistcoat, red neckerchief, laced boots, drab hat.—2nd dress.—Smart livery, white tied neckcloth, powdered wig.—3rd dress.—Greatcoat buttoned close.—4th dress.—Same as first. PIP.—Countryman's dress.—2nd dress.—Blue frock coat, white breeches, flowered waistcoat, white stockings, nankeen short gaiters.—3rd dress.—Nankeen frock coat, white breeches, light waistcoat, stockings, short nankeen gaiters, straw hat. Mr CHITTENDEN.—Drab frock coat, coloured waistcoat, top boots, black hat. MARGARET.—Chintz cotton, gipsey hat.—2nd dress.—Blue cotton, small red cloak, gipsey hat.—3rd dress.—Drab frock coat, breeches and gaiters to correspond, black.—4th dress,—Light brown, with white cape.—5th dress.—Slate dress. SALLY —Open chintz dress, white petticoat, blue ribbons, and gipsey hat.—2nd dress.—Figured, silk apron.—3rd dress.—Open silk dress, blue silk petticoat, yellow silk mantle trimmed with lace.—4th dress.-—Blue dress with flounces, black scarf, white bonnet. DAME CATCHPOLE.—Cotton dress, white muslin apron, cap. Mrs. PALMER.—Light slate silk dress, lace cap, pelerine. TIME IN REPRESENTATION—2 hours. MARGARET CATCHPOLE. ACT I. EARLY SCENES. SCENE I.—The Cottage at Nacton, Suffolk. A neat humble dwelling—door, L. C., and window, R. C., table, chairs, and rude easy chair. DAME and JONATHAN CATCHPOLE discovered—the DAME, an invalid, seated in her easy chair, R., JONATHAN leaning over it.—Pastoral Music. JONATH. Gently, wife, gently ! You are over hard on the lad. He's a smart quick fellow, but for his sea-going fancies, one that I should be contented to call son. DAME. With my consent, Will Laud never weds Margaret. I have watched him with penetrating eyes—weighed well his reckless spirit—listened to his free conversation—marked and noted, husband, his daring levity. He is no match for my girl, and so I mean to tell him. JONATH. Well, well, do so at once. He's in the meadows, walking with Margaret. Poor girl ! I hope she won't take it to heart. DAME. Better her heart ache now, husband, than break years to come. You know his determination to make the sea his home! A pretty prospect for my poor child—left to pine and grieve, whilst he's playing off his vagaries in foreign lands. No, no—I'll tell him to his face. JONATH. Hush, dame! (points—MARGARET and WILL LAUD are seen passing the window.) They are here. Music.—Enter WILL LAUD and MARGARET, D.L.. c.—she runs to her mother—LAUD takes JONATHAN'S hand. MARG. {kneeling before her mother.} Well, mother, ain't they beautiful? (offering flowers.) 8 MARGARET CATCHPOLE.